Exit door looms for Mackay

Another chaotic day at Cardiff ended with manager Malky Mackay still in charge, for now.

Bluebirds’ owner Vincent Tan sent Mackay a detailed letter by email on Monday, which concluded with the Malaysian ordering the Scot to quit the club or face being sacked.

Details of the email emerged on Thursday, but it is highly unlikely that Mackay will resign.

The former Watford boss has travelled to Liverpool with his squad for what appears almost certain to be his last game in charge at Anfield on Saturday.

Discussions between club directors took place throughout Friday, with Tan flying into the UK from Malaysia in the evening.

Press Association Sport understands chairman Mehmet Dalman met with Tan in London on Friday night to discuss the situation.

Mackay regards Dalman as a close ally having helped him through the loss of head of recruitment Iain Moody in October.

But it is believed relations between Tan and Mackay have deteriorated to such an extent that there is little chance of the Bluebirds’ boss escaping the axe, despite Dalman’s attempt to intervene.

Earlier on Friday, Mackay had failed to attend a press conference to preview the Liverpool game, with his assistant David Kerslake being sent in his place and refusing to offer any information on his boss’ predicament.

When faced with queries on Mackay, Kerslake consistently replied: ”I will answer any questions you have about the game of football tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, supporters gathered at Cardiff City Stadium to show their feelings on events at the club.

Tan’s email to Mackay had outlined his grievances with the former Watford boss at great length.

Within it Tan was highly critical of Mackay’s signings, style of play, results and record as a manager.

Mackay, who led Cardiff to the 2012 League Cup final before securing the Championship title last term, has previously stated he would not resign from his position, and it is believed it could cost Tan somewhere in the region of £3million to sack him with his contract running until 2016.

Mackay’s position as Bluebirds boss has been under scrutiny since Tan removed Moody in October amid suggestions of a summer transfer window overspend, something the Scot and Moody denied outright.

The problems at the club deepened on Monday, the same day as Tan’s email was sent, when chief executive Simon Lim released a statement claiming Tan was ”extremely upset” at Mackay’s comments that he hoped to bring in three players in January, and that there would not be ”a single penny” available to spend next month.

The latest row with Tan has also seen odds on the Scot becoming the next West Brom manager slashed.

Former Manchester United striker and current Molde boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as well as ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson have already been tipped as possible replacements for Mackay.

Turkish manager Yilmaz Vural has also emerged as a contender; just a matter of weeks ago Dalman had denied knowing who the 60-year-old – who has managed over 20 clubs in his homeland – even was.

Dave Jones, Bluebirds boss between 2005 and 2011, had also been mentioned, but a return to the Welsh capital for the former Sheffield Wednesday manager is thought to be unlikely.